The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 08, 1985
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1981
Thomas E Hainsworth, Holland, MI (US);
Bell & Howell Company, , US;
Abstract
An unmanned guided vehicle (10) is propelled along a path (P) by a traction mechanism. Movement of the vehicle (10) on the path is controlled by a first control. The vehicle (10) includes storage (40) for storing at least one container (30) and transfer mechanism (44) mounted for vertical movement on the vehicle (10) for moving the at least one container (30) between at least one stationary location and the storage (40). The vehicle (10) also includes second control (16) which selectively controls the transfer of the at least one container (30) between the at least one stationary location and the storage (40). The vehicle (10) is moved to the stationary location whereupon the container (30) is moved from the storage (40) to the transfer mechanism (44) and then to the stationary location or vice versa. The invention also encompasses a materials handling system including a self-propelled, automatically controlled vehicle (10) which follows a path (P) so as to transport a plurality of containers (30) between the three spaced areas in a building. The vehicle (10) includes mechanism for automatically and selectively unloading from the vehicle any one of a plurality of containers at any one of the three spaced areas.